San Gimignano is veritable museum town with its beautiful medieval towers: there were 72 in the 1300s, 14 are left to give to the town its fantastic, unique skyline.
Taking advantage of its position on the Via Francigena, in the middle ages San Gimignano became a trading point for wool, leather, textiles, saffron, oil and wine. Produced in San Gimignano from the homonymous vines (90% min.) and other authorized vines (10% max), the Vernaccia reaches an average production of about 6000000 bottles yearly. Of a straw yellow tint, which fades towards a golden hue with ageing, it has a prominent, fine taste, peculiarly sourish with a lightly bitter aftertaste.
Vernaccia has an alcoholic strength of 11%, although a strength of 11.5%, and a one-year ageing give it the Reserve quality.
The departure is at 9.00 a.m. from your hotel or villa in Siena or Florence and province. You will visit Monteriggioni, a very small medieval village contained in its defensive walls and towers. The day continues on to the village of San Gimignano, famous for its towers that symbolized its wealth in the past. It was one of the first villages built along the French Pilgrimage Road (Via Francigena) that connected northern Europe to Rome. You can wander the medieval streets ,shop at the many artisan, ceramic, alabaster, local produce and other souvenier items. Visit the lovely church off the main piazza.
Lunch will be organized in one of the trattorias in town or depending if the day is swapped around due to availability of wineries in a country trattoria.
You can will also visit a vinery where Vernaccia wine is produced. Here we can enjoy a visit of the cellar including a wine tasting.
You can also chose to visit a second winery for further tasting or see more of the countryside .
You can return to your hotel or villa at around 5.00 p.m.
2 persons : € 265 per person including wine tasting, cellar tour and lunch
3 persons : € 250 per person including wine tasting, cellar tour and lunch
4 persons : € 185 per person including wine tasting, cellar tour and lunch
6 persons : € 175 per person including wine tasting, cellar tour and lunch
8 persons : € 140 per person including wine tasting, cellar tour and lunch
16 persons : € 110 per person including wine tasting, cellar tour and lunch
Note: This is a private excursion with a english speaking driver , no tour guide in the town, if you wish to have a historic tour guide we can arrange this for you .